Madalina Rusu

“Madalina Rusu was magnificent – a pianist of exceptional talent with a phenomenal technique. She played a long and demanding programme which required great endurance and she achieved a level of artistic excellence not often heard in such a young pianist.” (Phoebe Woolam, Bleinheim Concerts)

Madalina Rusu has enjoyed performing from a very early age, and is quickly establishing a successful career as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed to critical acclaim in Romania, and throughout Europe in Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Since her arrival in London, Madalina has appeared as a soloist at Barbican Hall, Cadogan Hall, LSO St Luke's, St Martin's in the Fields, St Margaret's Church, Chappell's of Bond Street, Fairfield Halls, and elsewhere throughout the UK.

Madalina Rusu is a recipient of scholarship awards by the Martin Musical Fund/Phillarmonia Orchestra (2005 - 2009), Ratiu Family Foundation (2005 - 2008), winner of the Brancusi Award given by the Prodan Romanian Cultural Centre (2008), winner of a Boise Foundation scholarship (2009), winner of the Ian Flemming MBF award (2009), and winner of the Edith Vogel Bursary (2009).

Madalina's list of prizes include 1st prize at the International Piano Competition PRO - PIANO, Bucharest (2002), winner of the Croydon Concerto Competition (2007), and winner of all internal Piano Competitions at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London (2005, 2008). Madalina is also a major prize winner in the International Piano Competition 'Konzerteum' (Athens, 2000), Oxford Professional Recital Prize (2005, 2007, 2008), Tunbridge Wells International Young Artists Competition (2008), and the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition (2009).

During her studies, Madalina has played in numerous masterclasses held at the Dartington Summer School and at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where her talent has been recognised by distinguished musicians such as Richard Goode, Paul Lewis, John Lill, Imogen Cooper, Simon Trp?eski, Stephen Kovacevich, Pascal Rogé, Bryce Morrison, Alfredo Perl, Joanna MacGregor, Douglas Finch, Daniel Adni, and Andrew Zolinsky.

Born in 1985 in Constanta, Romania, Madalina Rusu began her musical studies at the Music High School in Constanta with professors Iuliana Carlig, Cristian Dumitrescu and Constantin Ionescu - Vovu. Since September 2004, she has been studying piano with Professor Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, where she gained a First class BMus Honours degree, and has graduated the MMus course (Guildhall Artist - Performance) with distinction. Madalina has been awarded the prestigious Guildhall Artist Fellowship, and she currently holds a piano teaching post at the GEMS Hampshire School in Chelsea, London.